New order growth accelerates to sharpest since April: Emirates NBD Saudi Arabia PMI

The health of the non-oil private sector continued to improve during August, according to the latest Emirates NBD Saudi Arabia PMI survey. Growth was supported by sharp expansions in new orders and output. Moreover, international demand for Saudi products and services picked up, as highlighted by a renewed increase in new export orders. Growth of staffing levels was sustained during August, as companies responded to greater capacity pressures by taking on extra staff. The survey found that companies continued to face upward cost pressures, but their ability to fully pass on higher cost burdens to consumers was restricted by intensive competitive conditions. The rate of growth in inventories climbed to a record high, reflecting greater buying levels.

The survey, sponsored by Emirates NBD and produced by IHS Markit, contains original data collected from a monthly survey of business conditions in the Saudi private sector.

Khatija Haque, head of MENA research at Emirates NBD, said: “Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sectors expanded at a solid rate in August, with the headline PMI broadly unchanged from July. The recovery in export orders helped boost overall new order growth to the fastest rate in four months in August, while output also showed a sharp rise last month.”

The headline seasonally adjusted Emirates NBD Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) — a composite gauge designed to give a single-figure snapshot of operating conditions in the non-oil private sector economy — edged up to 55.8 in August from 55.7 in July. This was consistent with the strongest improvement in operating conditions since April. However, the headline PMI remained below its long-run average (58.1).

The upward movement in the headline index was supported by a sharper increase in new orders. The rate of growth in new work quickened to the fastest in four months. More projects and stronger underlying demand were cited by panellists as the key factors behind greater inflows of new business.

Despite softening from the preceding month, output grew sharply. Panellists attributed the rise in business activity to favorable economic conditions.

Companies observed a renewed expansion in new export orders during August. Growth was recorded for the second time in the past five months. Opportunities arising from new export markets were frequently linked by panellists to stronger international demand for Saudi Arabia’s products and services.